SPRINGFIELD – With a faltering economy, residents were taking advantage of the free legal service provided by the Massachusetts Bar Association.

All lawyers were busy fielding calls at the Western Massachusetts Dial-A-Lawyer program held Wednesday at the Blake Law Center at Western New England College.

Carolyn McCaffrey, a lawyer with Frank P. Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law in East Longmeadow, said she volunteered her time to give back to the community.

McCaffrey, who said she grew up in Enfield, CT, attended Western New England College School of Law.

With the ailing economy, McCaffrey said she fielded many inquiries regarding bankruptcy issues.

“People are having trouble managing their credit card debt,” she said.

McCaffrey said she also fielded questions from both tenants and landlords frustrated because tenants were behind on rent.

Jennifer Rosinski, spokesman for the Massachusetts Bar Association, said the lawyers listen to the concerns of callers, many of whom say they cannot afford an attorney, and try to provide referrals. During the four-hour session, 30 volunteer lawyers fielded 377 calls, Rosinski said.

Rosinski said the program helps lawyers who often specialize in a particular area, become more familiar with the concerns of the community.

Western New England College School of Law, the only law school in Western Massachusetts, hosts the program. Other sponsors include The Republican, El Pueblo Latino, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys and the Hispanic National Bar Association.